Microsoft - Page 224 of 239

Is Xbox Live Primetime’s 1 Vs. 100 Becoming Pay To Play?

1 Vs. 100 Live, the first Xbox 360 game show for Microsoft’s Xbox Live Primetime push, is currently in beta testing. Originally pitched as a free game for Xbox Live Gold subscribers, it appears Microsoft may begin charging for it. While the 1 Vs. 100 Live product page on Xbox.com previously implied the game show…

By Michael McWhertor Published June 15, 2009

Reminder: Xbox Live Going Down Tonight

If you need to get any multiplayer gaming in on your Xbox 360 today, make sure you do it before the clock strikes 12:01 AM PST. Xbox Live will be going down for maintenance tonight, for up to 24 hours. As previously foretold, Microsoft’s online gaming service will be taking a breather tonight, affecting the…

By Michael McWhertor Published June 15, 2009

Peter Molyneux Wants To Help Rare “Get Well Known”

What is developer Rare best known for? Doing games for Nintendo in the 1990s? Making Banjo Kazooie? Battletoads? Viva Piñata? Peter Molyneux, creative director of Microsoft Europe, wants to help Rare have more of an identity. Here, let’s let him say it in his own words: “Actually one of the things I really want to…

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009

New Xbox To Launch In 2010?

Last week, Microsoft’s Shane Kim told us that the launch of the 360’s motion-controlled camera system – Project Natal – would be as big as a console launch. Maybe he was onto something with that. Because 1UP are reporting a rumour that while Natal will be released next year for existing 360 consoles, it will…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 13, 2009

Analyst Predicts Wii Price Drop

Wedbush-Morgan’s Michael Pachter — the guy that was so harsh on the PSPgo’s price tag — thinks the Wii will drop to $199.99 this holiday season Edge Online reports that Nintendo has already sold 20 million units — 50 million worldwide — and plans to sell another 26 million this fiscal year. Noting that a…

By AJ Glasser Published June 12, 2009

When Will It Be Wrong To Call The Xbox 360 A Game Console?

Kotaku recently asked Microsoft if the flourishing of non-gaming features like Netflix, Facebook, Last.fm and Twitter on the Xbox 360 will someday invalidate the classification of the device as a gaming console. Since the original Xbox launched in 2001, Microsoft has worked hard to deflate suspicions that the company wasn’t serious about video games. Microsoft,…

By Stephen Totilo Published June 12, 2009

Gears Of War 2 On PC? Try Bears Of War

Rumors are circulating regarding a possible December release for a PC version of Gears of War 2, but the site the rumors reference might have its compass pointed in the wrong direction. IGN points to a site called Beantown Games, explaining that “there were plenty of details that appeared to be pulled from an upcoming…

By Mike Fahey Published June 12, 2009

Natal Launch Will Be As Big As 360’s

On that day in the future when Microsoft launches its E3-darling Project Natal no-touch control system, it will feel like a console launch, a company exec told Kotaku. Forget the launch of previous gaming cameras and mics like the PlayStation Eye or the Xbox Live Vision Camera when you try to imagine the impact Microsoft’s…

By Stephen Totilo Published June 11, 2009

Xbox Live Community Games Renamed

Buried in the official announcement of XNA Game Studio 3.1 is news that, come late July, Xbox Live Community Games would be getting a much-needed name change. Goodbye Xbox Live Community Games, and hello Xbox Live Indie Games. The name is being changed in response to community feedback, in order to increase understanding and promote….here,…

By Mike Fahey Published June 11, 2009

Nintendo Expected Rival Motion Control Last Year

This year, both Microsoft and Sony announced motion technology platforms. This comes years after Nintendo first launched its own motion controlled console, the Wii. So what does Nintendo think? According to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, “To tell the truth, I expected them to come up with stuff like this last year. So in my mind…

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 10, 2009

Xbox Live Will Be Down Next Tuesday, Maybe For The Whole Day

Microsoft sent word earlier today that Xbox Live is in line for some scheduled maintenance. It’ll take place next Tuesday, and could leave the service down for up to 24 hours. The servicing will commence at 12:01 PST, and will leave Xbox-related online services down (including everything to do with Xbox Live) save for the…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 9, 2009

Microsoft’s Create-A-Game Game Out This Month

Despite it’s simple appearance, it’s clear Microsoft are dipping their toes in the LittleBigPlanet sea with Kodu. While the game was a no-show at E3, it’ll be a show-show on 360s later this month. The development team’s official blog has announced that the title/service/thing will be out at the end of June, with final content…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 9, 2009

Tracking The Ups And Downs Of Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference

After looking at the “popularity contest” study done on Nintendo’s E3 press conference yesterday, many asked when it would be Microsoft and/or Sony’s turn. Today, it’s Microsoft’s turn. Bitmob’s Andrew Hiscock has applied the same methodology – tracking the positivity or negativity of comments on hardcore gaming board NeoGAF – used for the Nintendo study,…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 8, 2009

Taking A Closer Look At Last.fm On The Xbox 360

News of a deal that brings Last.fm to the Xbox 360 was kind of lost in the flood of information coming out of Microsoft’s E3 press conference last week. So let’s go back to it. The service will be made available later this year, and will be free to all Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Once…

By Luke Plunkett Published June 8, 2009

Project Natal And Holodeck Gaming

Kudo "Bam" Tsunoda talks about the possibilities of Project Natal in this video. It is, Tsunoda says, the first step toward true "holodeck" gaming. Check out our full coverage of Microsoft’s Project Natal here.

By Brian Crecente Published June 7, 2009

Everything You Need to Know About Project Natal

This E3 was packed with explosive news and announcements, from confirmation of the PSP Go and Sony’s motion controls to the whispers of a new Metroid and Zelda. But one of the most startling may have been Microsoft’s Project Natal. On it’s simplest level, Project Natal is a straight forward motion control for the Xbox…

By Brian Crecente Published June 5, 2009

Microsoft: Project Natal Can Support Multiple Players, See Fingers

Earlier this week Microsoft let me try Project Natal in a hotel suite where test-versions of the new gaming sensor array was set up. Three times, I thought I found a flaw in the systems. I thought the system, as impressive as it was in letting me play kickball with virtual balls on a TV…

By Stephen Totilo Published June 5, 2009

Wii Remote Wizard Working On Project Natal

You remember Johnny Lee, right? Sure you do, he’s the man who can make magic happen with the Wii Remote. And it seems he’s bringing his skills to Microsoft’s Project Natal controller. While Lee is quick to say he doesn’t deserve credit for what we saw at E3, he does add, “The part I am…

By Brian Ashcraft Published June 5, 2009

Microsoft: Rare Working On Numerous Natal Projects

No Banjo Kazooie at E3? No Viva Pinata? Blame Project Natal. We’ve been looking for Rare at E3. Microsoft’s Shane Kim, corporate v. p. at Microsoft for Xbox 360 strategy and business development, didn’t exactly tell us where they are, but he did tell us what they’re up to. “Rare is intimately involved with Project…

By Stephen Totilo Published June 4, 2009

Stare Into Project Natal’s Small, Child-Like Eyes

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a close-up shot of Project Natal, Microsoft’s motion-sensing camera for the Xbox 360.

By Luke Plunkett Published June 4, 2009